The Social Employer Brand

Large employers will no doubt be finding budget for their employer brand and the snake oil salesmen agencies will be rubbing their hands in glee.  But what about the social employer brand.  Although many employers are still scared of social networks, and admit to not really knowing where to start, like it or not they need to make the most of social networks.

The likes of Facebook and Twitter may not have really proved themselves yet as hardcore recruiting channels but they do have a place in the recruitment process.  Smart employers will find a way of getting the most out of these channels without using all of their time or money.  Recruitment agencies will need to get smarter to survive; ad agencies will need to re-think how they can provide value when so many social networking services are free!

Employers have the desire; they just don't know where to start.

Ford: Has social media crisis management been a display of cultural transformation?

I'm sure the Ford Ranger Station Fire social media case study will still be talked about when we are all writing our blogs from our graves but more importantly, has Scott Monty done more than avoid a bit of a PR crisis?  Has he started to change the internal culture of Ford Motor Company? And if so, what impact could this new mindset have on the future success of Ford?

Facebook Connect Job Applications

I wonder how long it will be before people can apply for jobs using their Facebook login as per PayPal.  OK, so it will need FB to add a CV/Resume module (or someone to build one) but as more and more employers check new hire FB profiles anyway, why not?

Will communities take over from unions but with greater power?

As communities get bigger what collective power will they have?  Unions have traditionally been a way for the people to have a collective voice but do they always get the deal they feel is right?  Or do their leaders sell them down the river?  Big debate I know but what if communities get so big they become the voice of the people?

Jeremiah Owyang - good cop, bad cop

I read a post by Jeremiah Owyang yesterday titled Expect Changes at Mzinga which it would seem was both incorrect and considered by many (me included) to be unacceptable/unnecessary from such an influential person. I was going to respond but today's events have just added to my post.

I think this may just have knocked Jeremiah off the lofty perch he has put himself upon - or will it?

Social media is your greatest (people) asset

A phrase that although well worn, still used in so many places and still something HR (at least) claim to be of vital importance based on our own recent research i.e. employee engagement and talent management being rated by over 90% of participants as vital to their corporate success.

So how does social media fit in?  (It's a long answer!)

Twittercruit: Should you use Twitter for recruiting?

I have been asked this quite a few time over the last week or so which suggests people want to but don't know if they should.  Here are seven reasons why I think you should.

Corporate social media assessment

We recently launched a corporate social media assessment to look at how HR feel about the use of social media as part of their people strategy but also how comfortable they feel as individuals in using the same tools.  We had a fantastic response (much greater than expected) but you can still complete the assessment and qualify for a free copy of the report (due April 09). In the meantime here are some of the highlights:

• 94% of respondents want to stay abreast of how social media can be used as part of their people strategy.
• 12% are comfortable with social media and see how it can be used to achieve their strategic HR goals i.e. not that many!

Looks like the report will make interesting reading.

Who do you believe? Just ask people you don't know!

If no one will admit to being anything like an 'expert' in social media who does the customer believe?

I have been to seminars/webinars recently where the 'expert' (mad scientist) is giving two types of advice:

Subjective: which is more difficult to argue with as we can all have an opinion.

Technically incorrect: Easier to prove otherwise but doesn't help the customer who does not know who to believe if we/I throw in a comment that starts a heated debate.

Will Facebook buy Linkedin

This is something I've been thinking about for a while and came across this post by Alex McGregor that poses the same question.

Whilst one is positioned as personal and the other business the largest age group on Facebook is the 35 - 44 year olds and the fastest growing 55+ which is arguably where the majority of Linkedin people fit.  So it would be of interest to Linkedin to be bought by Facebook but would it owrk the other way around?

I would think FB could extend the profile options to allow for a business V personal profile with security settings to suit; maybe they could even allow people to open up certain aspects to search engines?!

Whatever happens, if I were Linkedin I'd be very worried.  FB claims to be growing at 5m new members a week and such a force is not something you want on your tail.